Page 26 of House of Crimson Cloak and Silver Teeth

“The contract is fifty days,” I tell him. “That’s all. Fifty days of protection and intel gathering. I’ll stay out of sight. I can shadow your movements without interfering. You won’t even know I’m there. Fifty days and then I’m gone.”

His eyes drop just for a second, then back up, contemplating.

“So I’d have an assassin shadowing me day and night for six weeks. That sounds exhausting for both of us.”

“That was the assignment…” My voice is careful.

“You’re terrible at stealth, your knee is damaged, and frankly I don’t trust you not to get yourself killed trying to protect me,” he says bluntly.

His assessment is brutal and accurate.

“That knee needs proper healing. You should be recovering, not chasing me through the city,” he adds.

The bastard sounds truly concerned. Part of me wants to appreciate the sentiment. The rest wants to punch him. “I can do my job.”

“Can you?” He crosses his arms.

“I’ll handle it.”

“No.” His voice goes firm. “You won’t. Because here’s what’s going to happen instead. “You’re going to stay here in my quarters where I can keep an eye on you.”

What game is he playing?

I hold his gaze, trying to read him. “What do you mean?”

“You heard me.” He looks entirely too calm for what he just said. “You’ll accompany me openly. As my… personal guard.”

“Your father hired me to protect you without you knowing.” I force my voice steady.

“I’ll deal with my father’s objections. Let me worry about him.” His shoulders lift in a small shrug. “Besides, he’ll get his money’s worth. You’ll keep me alive. Mission accomplished. You’ll just do it from here instead of from the shadows.”

“There’s a room through that door.” He briefly gestures toward the side. It’s not large but it’s yours.”

This is a bad idea. It violates every guild protocol and probably several laws.

“I can find quarters elsewhere in the city. Somewhere I won’t be in your way.” My brows pull together. “I don’t need to stay here.”

Definitely not this close to him. I don’t say that part.

He waves a hand dismissively. “You need to be close to protect me, right? Well, you can’t get much closer than this.”

Relief floods through me. I’m not being dismissed. The contract isn’t failing. He’s not sending me back. Though when he said I’d stay here, my mind went somewhere it shouldn’t have. I shove the thought away.

At least I’m not being discarded. That’s something.

I stare at him. Our eyes lock. But what is this bastard scheming?

I suppose I should argue more and refuse. Instead I hear myself say, “Fine.”

His grin widens. “Excellent.”

He refills both our glasses again. “Drink. You look like you need it.”

“Ground rules,” Garrett’s voice sharpens slightly. “First. No more lying to me. I’ll know anyway, and it’s tedious.”

“Understood.”

“Second. If you’re going to protect me, you need to be honest about your capabilities.” He glances at my knee. “That needs treatment. I can arrange it. Aelfheim has one of the best Hlaryan healers.”